Collection Development Policy: Applied Mathematics
  • Subject Librarian(s):
    Janet Crager

  • Departmental Library Representative (DLR):
    Stuart Geman

  • Description of the Academic Program | Home Page
    The Division of Applied Mathematics is one of the most prominent departments at Brown, and one of the oldest and strongest of its type in the country. The applied mathematics program began in 1941, but it was not until 1946 that the program became a formal Ph.D. program, the Graduate Division of Applied
    Mathematics. It was not until the 1950's that the program began to offer an undergraduate degree. Through the years, the program has lead the way in the research of many of the traditional fields of applied mathematics. Brown University has continuously supported instruction and research in the program since its inception. Over the years, the program has continued to develop and has branched out into the application of mathematics to the nonphysical sciences, particularly to problems in biology, medicine, linguistics, psychology, and economics. Undergraduate courses are offered in the areas of ordinary and partial differential equations, matrix theory, statistical sciences, probability and decision theory, risk and insurance analysis, the classical methods for formulating and solving problems in the sciences, operational analysis, optimization theory, the mechanics of solid materials and of fluids flows, numerical analysis, scientific computation and the science of modern computer based modeling. Standard program concentrations are in the areas of biology, computer science and economics.

    The graduate program in applied mathematics is primarily a Ph.D. program and is designed to prepare the student for a career in research and academic teaching. The graduate program courses focus on significant topics such as Partial Differential Equations, Real Analysis, Functional Analysis, Control
    Theory, Statistics and Probability, Dynamics, and Mechanics. In support of these advanced subjects and to expand the study and research experience, the department maintains active research centers: the Center for Fluid Mechanics, Turbulence and Computation, the Lefschetz Center for Dynamical Systems,
    the Center for Intelligent Control Systems, and other centers throughout the University. Other research groups in include the CRUNCH group, the Pattern Theory Group, and the Scientific Computing and Numerical Analysis group. The principal areas of research activities are ordinary, functional, and partial differential equations; optimization and control theory; applied probability, statistics and stochastic systems theory; numerical analysis and scientific computation; and the mechanics of solids and fluids.



  • Overview of the Collection
    The Applied Mathematics Collection is an integrated part of the Mathematics Collection. Consisting of over 42,000 titles, of which almost 500 are print and/or electronic serials, the collection is very extensive in its coverage of all fields of mathematics. The collection holds some 16,200 titles in those classifications identified by the Department as supporting their discipline. The collection also contains a very extensive collection of European titles. The interdisciplinary nature of applied mathematics allows it to benefit from many other science collections. Collections in medicine, biology, Physics, Computer Science, History of Mathematics, and Economics, all contribute support to meet the needs of the Division of Applied Mathematics. Many out of print books and journals also available on microfilm.

    There are three major electronic resources that support research in mathematics that are available. MathSciNet is a comprehensive database covering the world's mathematical literature since 1940. It covers approximately 1700 current serials and journals in whole or in part. Zentralblatt MATH is the world's most complete and longest running abstracting and reviewing service in pure and applied mathematics. The database contains more than 1.8 million entries drawn from more than 2300 serials and journals. Current Index to Statistics is a bibliographic index to publications in statistics and related fields. References are drawn from 162 core journals (as of 2003) that are fully indexed, non-core journals from which articles are selected that have statistical content, proceedings and edited books, and other sources.

    Other electronic resources that provide support the interdisciplary areas of applied mathematics include Compendex for engineering, Inspec for physics, computer science and engineering, ACM Digital Library for computer science. and Medline for medicine.



  • General Collecting Guidelines
    The mathematics collection is one of the premiere collections held by the Brown University Libraries. It is a comprehensive collection that the library attempts to maintain at a RESEARCH level. The library attempts to maintain a RESEARCH level collection in support of applied mathematics as well. A RESEARCH level collection includes the major source materials required for dissertations and independent research, including materials containing research reporting, new findings, scientific experimental results, and other information useful to researchers. It also includes all important reference works and a wide selection of specialized monographs, as well as a very extensive collection of journals and major indexing and abstracting services in this field.

    It is an important priority to acquire all important new publications in the field of applied mathematics. All primary publishers in the field of applied mathematics are to be reviewed in order to ensure that all works are evaluated. Except for lower level applied mathematics titles, all works are acquired from publishers such as SIAM, the American Mathematical Society, MIT Press, Cambridge University Press, Harvard University Press, Oxford University Press, Yale University Press, Birkhauser, AK Peters, and Sage. Other publishers that should be heavilty evaluated include Springer-Verlag, Wiley, Academic Press, Clarendon/Oxford, Kluwer, World Scientific and other university presses. Consideration is given to works created by all noted authors and researchers in applied mathematics.

  • Specific Collecting Guidelines
    • Language: English, original or in translation. Some material in major European languages including Russian.
    • Chronological Span: Primarily contemporary works.
    • Imprint Date: Current imprints. Frequent purchase of retrospective materials in support of research needs, as well as to replace missing or damaged volumes, or to fill in identifiable gaps in the collection. Occasional acquisition of out of print material.
    • Geographical Range: Primarily United States, Europe, Asia, and India.
    • Types of Material Included: Monographs, journals, proceedings, annuals, reference tools, web resources, microforms and dissertations. Limited purchase of audio-visual materials.
      Excluded: Textbooks, that focus on low level introductory applied mathematics.


  • Areas of Distinction
    Brown has been acquiring materials to support pure and applied mathematics since its founding, making the retrospective collection quite strong. From very early works found in the Special Collections, to the most current works published, the whole collection serves as an area of distinction. Of significance is the coverage of titles published in Europe, especially those published during the late 1800's and the first half of the 1900's. The collection currently holds all of the major titles published in all fields of pure and applied mathematics.

  • Special Collections
    Lownes Collection of Significant Books in the History of Science contains over three-quarters of those texts recognized by scholars as the "great books" of science published since the middle of the 15th century. This collection is held at the John Hay Library

    John Hay Library History of Science Collection is a major source for the history of mathematics.

  • Related Collections
    Brown is a member of the Center for Research Libraries, which "operates a global cooperative collection development program that assists academic and research libraries in making otherwise inaccessible and important research materials permanently available to scholars and researchers." CRL holds collections of international journals, newspapers and dissertations. The resources of the Ivy League institution's libraries are also available to Brown faculty and students via the Borrow Direct service and the Virtual Catalog makes the resources of the participating members of the Boston Library Consortium available upon request. For further information, check with the Interlibrary Loan Office (Phone: (401) 863-2750; Email: sci-ill@brown.edu

  • Selected List of Key Internet Resources